Bantock House considerations

People have been thanked for sharing their thoughts and suggestions about how Bantock House Museum should be run in future - with council chiefs pledging to take their comments on board.

Wolverhampton City Council, which is facing an unprecedented financial challenge, is investigating alternative ways of running the popular attraction as it seeks to safeguard its future.

The council wants to increase the income generated at Bantock House Museum and reduce its running costs, and people were invited to suggest ways it could do this at a series of special sessions last week.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "I'd like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to be a part of these sessions.

"A number of really interesting suggestions were made, some of which we've already considered and others which we'll be looking at closely over the coming weeks. They included increasing the size of the cafe, holding private events like weddings at Bantock House and staging more craft and antique fairs and theatre and musical performances.

"Officers will be spending the next few weeks investigating the various suggestions that have been made to see what may or may not be possible, and we'll be publishing our findings in the summer. Specific options will then be developed for the future management of Bantock House, and people will be invited to have their say on them in due course."

He added: "I've always made it very clear that we are determined to do all we can to ensure Bantock House Museum continues to be a popular attraction for many years to come. It receives around 90,000 visitors a year and is well loved by the people of Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas.

"However, the council is facing a huge financial challenge and must save at least £123 million over the next 5 years - so we need to reduce the cost of all our services wherever possible.

"That's why we are having to look at ways in which Bantock House Museum can operate without needing financial support from the council, by both increasing the amount of income it generates and reducing its running costs.

"I'd like to thank members of the public for the support they have shown to Bantock House Museum by coming up with suggestions about how we can do this, and remind them that we will do all we can to secure a bright future for it.

"Meanwhile, I'd encourage anyone who hasn't been to either Bantock House Museum or Bantock Park to come along and enjoy these fabulous attractions."

If anyone has any further thoughts and suggestions they will be able to make them via an online survey which will be launched in the next few weeks, while there will also be further sessions aimed at park users - details will be confirmed in the near future.